saṁśritāḥ

 The Sanskrit word "saṁśritāḥ" is written 

in Devanagari script as संश्रिताः

"Saṁśritāḥ" in Sanskrit means 

"having taken shelter of," "resorted to," or 

"being dependent upon" something or someone, 

often in the context of seeking refuge or support

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 .

Etymology and Grammatical Sense

The word saṁśritāḥ is derived from the root śri, which means 

to take shelter, to depend upon, or to resort to, combined with the 

prefix sam, which intensifies the sense of completeness or totality 

of the action 

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. In grammatical terms, it is 

the plural nominative form referring to those who have taken refuge 

or reliance. It conveys the quality of someone directing their focus 

or dependence toward a particular object, entity, or concept.

Contextual Usage in the Bhagavad Gita

In Bhagavad Gita 16.18, the term occurs in the verse: "ahaṅkāram balam 

darpam kāmam krodhaṁ ca saṁśritāḥ", describing demoniac tendencies 

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.

Here, saṁśritāḥ qualifies individuals who take shelter in negative qualities 

such as ego, strength, pride, desire, and anger, rather than seeking refuge 

in divine consciousness or Krishna. The purport explains that these 

individuals misdirect their dependence toward material or emotional 

objects, showing attachment to temporary, non-spiritual sources of 

security 

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. This highlights the spiritual teaching that 

where one places their refuge reflects their nature and orientation, 

whether material or divine.

Broader Implications

The term can be applied more generally in Sanskrit literature to mean 

any form of reliance, dependence, or adoption of something as a source 

of support, whether physical, mental, or spiritual 

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. For 

example, one might take shelter under a teacher, a principle, a god, 

or even under material possessions, which is considered misdirected 

in ethical or spiritual discourse.

In summary, saṁśritāḥ conveys an act of seeking refuge, reliance, 

or being grounded in certain qualities, actions, or entities, with 

the Bhagavad Gita emphasizing the importance of choosing the 

right object of dependence—spiritual over material 

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.